Car-coupling device



Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES- PATENT'OFFICE.

JOHN CLIFFORD WHITBIDGE, GEORGE TEWKSBURY JOHNSON, AND HARRY HAMIL- TON WOLFE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'S TO THE BUCKEYE STEEL CASTIN'GS COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING DEVICE.

Application filed. November 23, 1923. Serial N'o. 676,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J GEN C. WVI-IITRIDGE, GEORGE T. JOHNSON, and HARRY H. lVoLrn, citizens of the United States, and residents of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Coupling Devices; and we do hereby declar the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car coupling devices by the use of which an M. C. B. automatic coupler head. may be connected with a hook-type coupler, the primary objects of the invention being to guard against loss or theft of the essential parts of the device and to so arrange the device that it will not interfere with the engagement of two automatic coupler heads. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupler equipped with theimproved device; Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

The M. C. B. coupler head 1 carries a knuckle 2 which is held in the head by a pivot 3 in the usual manner. The free end of the knuckle is provided with a horizontal notch 4 having a flared outer terminal, and extending vertically across the notch is a pin 5 which is housed by the body of the knuckle and rests on the floor of the same, said floor being provided with a small drain hole 6. The pin 5 is provided at its upper end with an eye 7 in which is engaged one end of a link 7 having its opposite end engaged in a link 8, the latter connecting with an eye 9 on the upper end of the pivot pin 3. It will thus be seen that the coupling pin 5 is connected permanently with the pivot pin and, as the removal of the latter is difficult, loss or theft of the former is prevented to a reasonable'degree. The means for engaging the hook coupler 10 consists of a chain composed of two double or compound links 11, 12 and a straight link 13 connecting them. The link 11 is engaged on the hook coupling and the link 12 is so formed as to fit closely within the notch 4: and be retained therein by the pin 5. To

prevent loss of the coupling chain an eye 14 is formed on the side of the link 13 and is engaged with one end of a retaining chain 15 which has its opposite end engaged with an eye or loop 16 on the lower end of the pivot pin3 or some other point of the coupler head. Obvi0usly,- if the link 12 be removed from the coupler head the chain 15 will prevent its entire detachment and the device will drop below the head without being lost and if one of the links 11, 12 or 13 be engaged upon a hook or other fixed element on the car, the device will be out of the way and, at the same time, it will be prevented from dragging on the ground and being broken or otherwise damaged.

l The links 7 and 8 are so proportioned that the coupling pin 5 may be raised above the notch 4 but it cannot be removed entirely from the knuckle. I The pin is, therefore, always in place whether the transition device is being used to connect with a hook coupler or two automatic couplers are coupled. The links 7 and 8 have all the movability and flexibility needed to accommodate the free movement of the knuckle when two automatic heads are to be couple-d and as the lower part of link 7 drops down into the housing for pin 5 the links will not drop down between the parts and interfere with the operation. course, that the coupling pin 5 need not be located at the precise point shown but may be carried at some other location on the free end of the knuckle.

The parts are assembled in the factory, all the link or chain elements being secured together and the pins 3 and 5 being connected before being placed in the proper openings in the drawhead and the knuckle, the loop 16, when it is formed on the lower end of the pin 3, being of such dimensions as to readily pass through the opening for said pin. If the loop 16 be formed on the drawhead, a collar or some other stop element may be formed on the lower end of the pin 3 after it is in place. The end link of the chain 15 is, of course, not closed until after it is engaged with the loop 16 whereupon the sides of the split or ends of the blank are' brought together and welded or otherwise permanently united. It will be noted that the links 11 and 12 have It will be understood, of

their terminalsor ends disposed at right angles to each other so that, while the desired flexibility is attained, twisting of the links and resultant disengagement or breaking ot the coupling is avoided. Moreover, the link 12 so ills the notch in the knuckle that all excessive movement is prevented, wear upon the parts being thus minimized and the connection between the two couplers being operative under all conditions of draft or loading. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the pin 5 is housed in the knuckle so that it is not exposed to chance blows at either its upper or its lower end, and the links 7 and S are not apt to be subjected to or exert such a pull as will ctl ect accidental dislodgement of the pin.

Having fully described our invention what we claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a drawhead, a knuckle pivoted therein, the pivot ot' the knuckle being secured against withdrawal and the knuckle having a vertical pin-rcceiving opening in its "free end and a notch across said end intersecting said opening, the front portion of the notch being flared, a compound link having a horizontal end litting in the notch in the knuckle and a verti cal end seating in the flared portion of the notch, a compound link to engage a hook coupler. a straight link connecting the compound links, a flexible device permanently secured at one end to the side of the straight link and having its opposite end permanently secured at a point fixed relative to the drawhead, a pin seated in the opening in the free end of the knuckle and passing across the notch in the knuckle and through the link therein, and a permanent flexible connection between the upper end of said pin and the pivot of the knuckle permitting limited lifting movement of the pin.

2. The combination of a drawhead, a knuckle pivoted therein, the pivot of the knuckle being secured against withdrawal and the knuckle being formed at its free end with a vertical opening terminating short of the bottom of the knuckle and with a horizontal notch intersecting said openin a link seated in said notch, a pin passing through said link and housed in the vertical opening in the knuckle, and a link connec tion between the upper end of said pin and the pivot of the knuckle, said connection r permitting release of the pin from the firstmentioned link but preventing complete withdrawal of the pin from the knuckle.

In testimony whereof, we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN CLIFFORD WHlTRlDGE. GEORGE TEWKSBURY JOHNSON. HARRY HAMILTON WOLFE. Vitnesses:

WILLIAM JAY BENNETT, Finn). Winner: Eisnris'rnnr. 

